Page 91 of Awakened
“Sorry, Mama Rose.”
I choked on air. “Okay, this is getting too weird. First, with the Mama thing, then Marie apologizing for cursing? Who are you people?”
“Shut your mouth, Les, or you’ll clean up the entire party alone.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Grandma Rose clapped her hands, laughing. “You two are wonderful together. I hate to stop the fun, but we don’t have much time to discuss this.” Her face grew serious, and she asked, “Honey, what do you know about the Howlers?”
I frowned, unsure of why they were bringing up old bedtime stories. “Uh, not much, just what Dad told me and what I saw in movies as a kid. They were the secret group that protected weres from humans before The Reveal of 1950. Once the paranormal secret was out, they disbanded.”
Grandma Rose nodded, smiling. “That’s the cover story they came up with.”
“Okay . . .”
“They still exist, only now, they primarily protect wolves from wolves.”
“So, they’re the Regional Powers’ secret muscle?”
Both women laughed. “Oh, Goddess, no. They operate outside the governing bodies. They’re sworn to a higher power.”
“Great, but what does this have to do with me and The Gathering?”
Marie huffed. “Come on, girl. Don’t be dense. The Howlers will be at The Gathering and want to be put in contact with you.”
“Why me? Why not Brandon or Zach or . . .” Marie lifted one perfect eyebrow. Huffing out a breath, I conceded, “Okay, so I don’t know who else is on our side at this thing.”
“And that’s exactly why you will be contacting the Howlers.”
I was quiet for a minute, trying to figure out when my life became caught up in secret organizations and cults. “Who’s my contact?”
Grandma Rose shifted in her seat, slightly frowning. “By nature of the group, we don’t know. We’ll never know any of the active members unless we run into each other on a mission or become a handler.”
“So why should I trust this higher power loving, sleeper cell, shady ass, CIA syndicate?
“Do you trust me and Marie? Did you trust your dad? Your mom?”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me?” My parents were fucking spies. My family was Wolf Illuminati. “Wait, didn’t you say no one knows who’s a Howler?”
Marie sighed, rolling her eyes. “Yes, but we knew you would never trust a stranger, so we asked to make the connection. We can tell you about your parents as they are deceased, and we’re offering ourselves up in good faith. I assume you won’t be running off at the mouth about our previous stints in the Howlers.”
Grandma Rose spoke in a gentler voice, taking my hand in hers. “Honey, we can’t tell you who you will be working with. You’ll probably never know, but you must trust the Howlers. Even before I was initiated, I worked with them to protect my pack. They are not at the mercy of current political climates. They keep the balance.”
Before I could mention that was how dictators got their start, howls filled the air.
Marie smiled. “Michael must be changing. We should get out there. I think it goes without saying that mum’s the word. No one can know about the Howlers or your connection to them. Got it?”
“Of course, but how do I contact them? What do I do?”
Marie handed me a burner cell. “They’ll text you on this. Don’t lose this phone. There won’t be another.”
I let Marie and Grandma Rose leave the room before I slumped down in my chair. Everything was getting to be too much. Now I had a secret fucking society to contend with, and I needed to include them in my planning.
As I walked outside to the party, the burner buzzed.
Unknown
We’ll be in touch, Beta Spencer.
